Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil wants to stay at Arsenal but has hinted that the club will have to spend big to keep hold of the Germany international.
Ozil’s current deal expires in 2018 and he has yet to agree a new deal with the club with recent reports claiming he wants £250,000-a-week to remain in north London.
Wenger says he is confident the 28-year-old does not want to leave but admits the club must also prove to the player they are capable of winning silverware.
“I don’t think he needs convincing. He wants to stay here. But if you have a good bank, call me,” he said according to the Mirror.
“It’s not just money. Arsenal can win titles of course. But that’s what we have to show. We are in a League where Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea everybody fights and you cannot guarantee that to anybody.
“We keep that [negotiations] discreet. At due time we will come out with that. We want to keep our best players, of course. But the more I say that, the more he is in a stronger position!”
Ozil was on target on Saturday as Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table and Wenger admits he has been delighted with the way his team have responded after a slow start.
“After the first game against Liverpool you could not predict that we would be where we are today,” he added.
“That means what is at stake for us is to show that we can maintain that run on a longer distance,” he added.
“And as well that we are all conscious that we still have some things to improve in our game. We have to go a step higher up to go the next level.”
Wenger’s comments on Ozil will bring relief to supporters who will be delighted to hear he wants to stay and will hope the club can now tie him down to a new deal sooner rather than later.